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June - July 2009 Charles W. Morgan Restoration Updates

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7.24.09

Charles W. Morgan: The recent focus of the shipwrights' efforts has been on milling exterior planking and ceiling for the MORGAN. Much of the southern long leaf pine from Thomasville, Georgia, has already been milled and work will commence soon on some of the live oak. Planking is being cut to a 4 inch thickness, which, when planed, will provide boards of 3 ½ inch thickness. Ceiling planks will be cut to 3 ½ inches and planed to 3 inches.

A little over 3 inches of the hog has been eliminated. This job proceeds methodically with a target of reducing the hog by 4 ½ inches. To the eye the curve in the keel is much less pronounced. Evaluation of the rot in the stem continues. The shipwrights are unsure how deep the rot goes behind the rabbits. Additional bulwark planking in the bow will be removed next week to help in the assessment.

A team of volunteers is being assembled to strip all paint off the MORGAN both on the exterior and the interior. This is a key task as the vessel has had so many coats of paint that the planking dries unevenly and the continuity of the paint is poor. The middle of a plank may be dry but the seam edges remain wet due to the paint build-up.

I-beams for the overhead crane or trolley system have been delivered to the shipyard. Assembly will commence soon. Not only will the crane/trolley system facilitate the removal of large pieces of wood, it will hold up the between decks by means of a system of rods extending through the main deck.

On the main deck caulking is being removed from the butt ends to permit contraction as the hull shape changes but also to facilitate the start of the recaulking of the entire deck. The main deck is in good condition dating from a 1980's restoration. However, several planks in high visitor traffic areas will need to be replaced.

7.10.09

Charles W. Morgan: After several weeks of effort and leveraging the experience of the restorers of the USS Constellation, the Museum's shipwrights have taken nearly three inches out of the hog. The technique used consists of jacks putting upward pressure on both the bow and stern while gravity acts to drop the central portion of the keel, when the supporting stanchions are backed off. We know the shape of the hull is changing by means of a laser measuring system and visual observation of gaps in the planking starting to close up.

Wetting of the hull continues by means of a misting machine on the interior of the hull and a crude but effective garden sprinkler system on the exterior. While keeping the hull wet is desirable, the downside is the return of mold and mildew. To suppress this, the shipwrights have sprayed the hull with borate, a substance which is used in the construction and preservation of modern log cabins.

One of the next steps is to commence removal of the ceiling and much of the framing. To facilitate this activity, the shipyard is designing an overhead crane system which will be installed in the hold.

6.12.09

Charles W. Morgan: Currently the shipwrights' priority is removing about half of the hog. Not all the 11 inch hog will be eliminated because over time some of it has been built into the vessel; therefore it is not practical to reduce it completely. The keel has been lowered about two inches but the hog has maintained its curve which is most pronounced forward of keel block #12. Aft of this point the keel is quite straight but inclined from the stern upwards to a point amidships, where the curvature of the hog becomes most evident.

The shipwrights are using the experience of the crew which restored the USS Constellation which had a similar challenge. Jacks have been installed directly under the bow. Upward lifting pressure will be applied while simultaneously the keel will be allowed to drop one keel block at a time in this forward area. This process will be done very slowly. If successful, more of the forward part of the keel on multiple keel blocks will be engaged. A similar technique will be employed in the stern.

6.01.09

Charles W. Morgan: Documentation of the MORGAN's hull shape has slowed while repairs are being made to the shipyard's EDM system. Hopefully this issue will be resolved this week and work on reducing the hog can recommence. Meanwhile the "straps" for the molds are being extended to a point above the waterline. The shoring for the molds is complete. Exploratory work has begun in the bow. Inner bulwark planking has been removed in the port bow exposing framing made of greenheart. There is some rot in the wood; however, the real issue is that greenheart tends to split, thus it can't take fasteners. The shipwrights have also determined that the stem will need to be replaced.

Part of the restoration process is the cataloguing of materials removed from the vessel. The pole barn just north of the main shed will be emptied and used as a staging area. Key parts and items made of unique materials will be retained in accordance with National Park Service standards. (The MORGAN is a National Historic landmark.) Wood which has no particular significance or useful life remaining will be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable fashion.

The misting machines are working well in the hold. A lawn sprinkler system has been installed on the port and starboard sides at the keel to wet the exterior of the hull.